TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN ANIMATED SERIES

Marvel Studios has announced a new Spider-Man animated series, Ultimate Spider-Man, to begin the fall of 2011 on Disney XD.

Like the comic of the same name and the next Spider-Man live-action film, Ultimate Spider-Man will feature a teenage Peter Parker.

"Ultimate Spider-Man will be a unique journey exploring our favorite web-slinger as he teams up with other fan favorite Marvel Super Heroes in never before seen stories with a new life filled with great challenges, new friends, intense action and character growth," said Eric S. Rollman, the president of Marvel Animation.

Click on the thumbnail for a larger look at the first promo for the series.

In other Marvel Animation news, The Continuum has learned that it is, according to a source, "very unlikely" that there will be a second season of Wolverine and the X-Men.

Nicktoons did not include the show in its recent upfront presentation.

J.T. KRUL TALKS MINDFIELD #0

Mindfield #0, which launches the new series created by J.T. Krul, arrives in stores on Wednesday from Aspen Comics.

During a recent visit to Aspen's offices in Culver City, Calif., The Continuum sat down with Krul, who talked specifically about the #0 issue.

Here's how Aspen describes the issue, which is drawn by Alex Konat and features a 12-page story and sketchbook section:

"The CIA has created an elite team of telepathic agents dedicated to fighting
domestic terrorism. But as Connor and the rest of his crew take to the
streets, can they handle the dark thoughts buried inside the minds of 'we
the people?'"

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

IDW PUBLISHING FIRST LOOKS

For covers and six-page previews of IDW Publishing titles arriving in stores on April 14, CLICK HERE.

"Managing to sustain the creature's unbridled fury before it can completely ravage its home planet, the Jedi are ordered to transport the tenuously subdued Zillo Beast to Coruscant for scientific study. An indestructible monster of indescribable power on the galaxy's most densely populated planet -- what's the worst that can happen?"

In addition to requiring one of the largest CG-models ever created for The Clone Wars, the Zillo Beast presented a sound challenge, as well.

"There was a lot of trial and error getting there," says Dave Acord, sound editor on The Clone Wars and creator of the Zillo's distinctive cry. "I tried a number of animals, musical instruments, cars -- but ultimately, the Zillo roar is 75 percent horse. Pitched down, of course, and boomed. The other 25 percent is varying combinations of bobcat and lion, mostly for the growls and some of the heavier bellows. The complexity of the horse whinny seemed to have the right appeal in terms of expression and otherworldliness.

"At times, the roar can sound terrible and menacing. Other times, you can hear the pain in his voice. The Zillo has a lot of character, and we've tried to match that with our sound design."

MARVEL COMICS ROUNDUP

Marvel Comics has released a third teaser image for We Are The X-Men.

Details about the project will be announced on Sunday at C2E2 in Chicago.

Click on the thumbnail for a larger image.

In other Marvel news:

* Marvel has released a behind-the-scenes video for its Iron Man: Extremis motion comic.

DC COMICS ROUNDUP

DC Comics has announced the return of Ray Palmer in Brightest Day: The Atom #1 in July.

The issue is written by Jeff Lemire, with art by Mahmud Asrar. The cover is by Gary Frank.

Atom's story will then continue as a co-feature beginning with July's Adventure Comics #516.

In other DC news:

* Paul Cornell is the new writer of Action Comics.

* DC has unveiled David Mack's variant cover to Justice League of America #44 and Patrick Gleason's cover to Green Lantern Corps #47.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

BRIEFLY

* Paramount Pictures has released three new images from Iron Man 2.

Click on the thumbnails for larger images.

* Top Cow Productions has announced it has partnered with Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs to launch the Witchblade Fragrance line, with a portion of each purchase to be donated to Hero Initiative.

The Witchblade Fragrance line will debut at this weekend's C2E2 convention in Chicago.

The Witchblade Fragrance line features 5ml perfume oil blends based on the characters from Top Cow's Witchblade series, including Witchblade (Antediluvian, sacred metal, glowing red musk, blessed frankincense, antiqued amber), Witchblade-bearer Sara Pezzini (Hint of leather and an understated vintage musk layered over the scent of lightly perspiring, honey-dusted skin), Detective Patrick Gleason (A classic men's cologne splashed over a leather trench coat with a hint of gunshot residue) and the Curator (Mysterious herbs and ancient resins). The Sara Pezzini and Witchblade scents are meant to be layered together, but can be worn alone.

The Witchblade Fragrance line retails at $26 a bottle, and will be available for purchase at the Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs booth at C2E2.

JUNE SOLICITATIONS ROUNDUP

For previously posted May solicitations, click on the publishers' names below: